Teacher evaluations not doing the job

In 1988 my oldest son attended kindergarten at CPS’ Beaubien School on Chicago’s North Side. Prior to the first parent-teacher conference, the kindergarten teacher sent home a note requesting my wife or I meet with her to discuss my son’s skills. To this day I cannot forget the contents of this note. It read, “I am concerned with your son’s skills. He does not right well. Please come hear to discuss” (italics added).

Now, since one of the Chicago Teachers Union strike issues involves the evaluation process, what kind of evaluation would the union give this teacher? What evaluation should this teacher get? In 1988 a passing grade was 70 percent. The passing grade is now 60 percent. Will the union propose 50 percent as a passing grade to improve the teacher’s evaluation?

My son finished his kindergarten year at Beaubien, but that was the last of CPS for my family. My wife and I worked second jobs to send my children to the local Catholic school. It was an easy choice for us, similar to the choice Mayor Rahm Emanuel made for his children.

Sean Hurley

Chicago